Unlike those of you who were moving, notcamping, and road trippin’, we had a nice quiet weekend here in ThimbleannaLand. The weekend was spent doing fun, oddball things around the house. There was much weeding (finally!) in our PERFECT Saturday weather, along with some sewing (working on the cupcake swap, so I can’t show you), sock knitting, and reading (I’ve started a fun new book, Three Bags Full, recommended by Kristy).
And a bit of cooking was thrown into the mix. I managed to finally try the famous No-Knead Bread recipe.
I Loved it! The crust was crispy as promised — my favorite kind of bread. The only problem I had is that it doesn’t seem to me like the bread rose very high. Could be one of two reasons: 1) even though the recipe said to use a6 to 8 qt pan, my 5 1/2 qt pan seemed awfully big, or 2) the recipe called for instant yeast which we couldn’t find, so we got rapid rise yeast. Have any of you tried this recipe? Does anyone know the difference between instant yeast and rapid-rise yeast? (I could probably google that, but I’m having a case of the lazies.) Anyway, volume or not, I loved it — it was easy and I’ll definitely be making it again. I’ve heard there are variations to this recipe too, has anyone tried one they’d recommend?
I hope you’re off to a good start to your week. Mine will be busy — BigDaddy had a knee replacement today (everything is going great — he’s amazing!) and I’ll be in some goofy training until 8 o’clock tomorrow evening. So, have a nice relaxing cup o’ tea (er, diet pepsi?) tomorrow for me!
XOXO,
Anna
Well now that you have made the no-kneed bread, you have to try the 5-minute. which is very similar but a lot easier and quicker !!!! Clarice
Oh try replacing 1/4 cup with rye flour. You will get a nice tang !!
It certainly looks yummy, somehow homemade bread shows your contentment. :-)
Can’t help you on the yeast front, wouldn’t know the stuff if it waved and sang happy birthday to me. The bread looks delicious though.
I had a quick look at the book and it sounds very original, will be interested to hear your opinion of it.
Oooh oohh I’ve made this bread recently too and I have researched it to death on the internet so hopefully I can answer your questions. (I’m no expert…but I’ve read A LOT about the science behind the yeast…I’m such a nerd!)
First though I have to say *I LOVED* this bread…so easy and so forgiving!..I’ve only made it once, but I can’t wait for cooler weather when it will be nice to whack up the heat of the oven.
Right..First here’s a link to another blog and videos that just reconfirms the NY version
http://www.breadtopia.com/ Just look for no-knead bread.
Right..yeast there are 3 kinds..Fresh, Dry Active, and Instant (same as quick rise)
Instant also know as quick rise or fast acting is the most concentrated version of yeast, (looks like little flakes) and you only need a 1/4 tsp for the no-knead bread.
Dry Active is next in concentration (looks like little beads), and if you are using dry active it has to be activated in water first for about 15 minutes use 1/2 tsp for the No-Knead Bread (I used this and had good success)
Fresh yeast is less concentrated and harder to come by…haven’t a clue how it would work in the No-Knead recipe.
Some people say that instant yeast hasn’t got the lasting power for the long rises required in the No-knead process…though many others have had good success…personal choice I guess. Also some say that once you have opened your little sachet of instant yeast to seal up the remaining yeast well and keep it in the fridge til you make bread again…some say it will because less potent once opened…
As for the pot…I used a stainless steel 4.5 qt pot from Ikea. I used a piece of foil to cover the lid (it has a little steam hole on top) to make it air tight as it is the magic of the steam that makes to bread work. I did use some spray oil on my pot before I preheated it to ensure the bread wouldn’t stick..it didn’t and came out beautifully.
Hope that helps…feel free to ask if there is something I missed.
TTFN
Sorry can’t help with the bread … I tend to get mine in a plastic bag :). Hope all goes well with the new knee!
hi Anna, looks like Jane covered it all! All I’ll say then is even though it’s “short” bread, it looks mighty fine!!
I tried no-knead bread last week and it didn’t come out right. It was way too sticky and wet, although I will say that it did rise. I tossed it in the trash. Maybe I should try again!
Prayers for Big Daddy today…..
I’m going to have to try this bread recipe, maybe the pesto, too. You did not steer me wrong on the cupcakes, so what have I got to lose?!
I don’t know the difference between the yeasts. I don’t really think there is any. I’d love to try it. I like different types of bread – especially crusty ones like this looks like. Gotta try it.
Hi Anna – think I can help with the recipe side of this query! The No-Knead bread company is/was an Australian company and took our land by storm 10 years or more ago. Many of us took ‘courses’ on how to make this bread and how to use it in many different ways. I shall look in to the deep dark recesses of my cook book bookshelf and hunt out the book I was given on one of these courses – and if you are interested, I shall scan in the pages for you!?
All those lovely air pockets in your bread looks to me like the yeast did its job!
Kind regards – Dawn
Oooh your bread looks lovely. I’ve been baking all our own bread for the past two weeks and it tastes so good. I’ll have to try the no-knead version next time :)
xxx
The bread looks yummy. I’ve never made the no knead but it’s on my list of things to do. I’m waiting until it cools off a little. I thought instant yeast was the same as rapid rise. Oh and I posted THE recipe. I hate being told I can’t do something. It does have my changes too so it is actually mine right? Good I’m glad we agree..lol!!
Skinny crusty sandwiches are okay by me. Easier to fit into my mouth. Looks delish!!!
Your weekend sounds pretty perfect to me! Mine was quieter too, and I enjoyed it.
Your bread looks wonderful. I haven’t baked bread in a very long while, but this looks very tempting.
Thanks for dropping by Anna. I’ll write a little bit more about the wax sticks and the sketch book in a few days. I’m glad you’re interested!
Got any jam to smear on a slice of that bread – YUMMY I keep telling myself I knead to try this bread making stuff – by hand I mean. Sounds like you had nice weekend of just being home and nesting. Don’t you just LOVE those type of weekends.
Hugs – Karen
Ooh, I hate kneading so many thanks for the link!! That bread looks delicious, almost like a ciabatta with all those lovely bubbles.
Nice ear muffs in the last post, Pooh!
Ahhhh! I had the yeast question too! I’ll have to try it soon.
Loved Pooh’s muffs!
Will try to try, the no knead bread… looks nice.
I need a knee replacements too. So glad it is all going well, give him some gentle hugs from meXX
The bread looks a bit like ciabatta…I can smell it from here!
Anna,
I think instant yeast is finer and is often mixed with the dry ingredients rather than the other yeasts (I prefer the old fashioned yeast) that must sit in a little warm water for 5 minutes before it is incorporated into the dough. I think these breads often end up quite flat so don’t feel badly. It looks very delish. I’ve made it too and I especially like it made into french toast!
Jody
What a lot there is to say about bread! Our son has asked for a breadmaker for his birthday. Very macho.
Hope BigDaddy’s new knee heals super quick. (I actually typed “knew” knee but then I noticed.)
The bread looks wonderful. I have heard about the recipe and have always wanted to try it…now I am certainly more inclined to after reading some of the tips about yeast in one of the comments above.
Mmmmm, I think your bread looks delicious. I never feel like baking when I have time during the summer because it’s so hot. When it cools down, I’ll give your bread a try.
Hi just me your “road trippin” friend. LOL!! So far so good but no houses have jumped out at us yet. We’re still looking in between quilt shop shoppin. I’ve got my priorities.
Bread looks yummy!!
And your weather you provided for me is just fabbo!!! Thank you
That looks so yummy!! It’s making me hungry and I’m not supposed to eat anything else tonight :)
I’ve got no advice for you on the bread front. I have wanted to try that recipe but I don’t have an appropriate pan to bake it in, and haven’t gotten around to hunting one down yet. (I have a bad case of the lazies, too.)
That bread looks delicious! Who cares how high it rises as long as it tastes good! Hope BigDaddy recuperates well! Lucy x
I really enjoyed reading the post about your first born son. You must be incredibly proud of his entrance into med school. I couldn’t help but tear up about your last couple of sentences. Your butterfly slipped from your grasp, why didn’t you hold on tight. How beautifully written. I am a mother of a toddler son and I know that day will come for me too. Thanks for sharing such a beautiful moment such as yours.